The Influence of Soil Volume on Root and Shoot Parameters in Container-grown Oilseed Rape

Oilseed rape was grown under irrigated conditions at equal plant density per unit area in PVC cylinders of 1 m length with different diameter (0.11, 0.16 and 0.20m). The influence of soil volume, expressed as cylinder diameter, was found not to be significant on root dry weight, root length, root surface area or the shoot: root ratio. However, a significant influence was found on shoot and seed dry weights. It was concluded that cylinders with a length of 1 m and a diameter of a minimum of 0.11 m are appropriate for the study of container-grown root systems.     

Mehrlingsgeburten bei Kühen mit Ovarialzysten nach intrazystoser Behandlung mit Gonadotropinen

Contents A report on the occurrence of multiple births after intracystory administration of shorion-gonadotropine in the ovary in cows.     

Wir beklagen den Tod von Rudolf Mansfeld

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Involvement of proteases in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus uncoating upon internalization in primary macrophages

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) replicates in differentiated macrophages. In macrophages, heparan sulphate glycosaminoglycans mediate the initial PRRSV attachment and the receptor sialoadhesin mediates both PRRSV attachment and internalization into endosomes. Upon a pH drop, PRRSV is uncoated and its genome is released from the endosomes into the cytoplasm, which allows virus replication. However, expression of heparan sulphate and sialoadhesin in non-susceptible cells only allows virus internalization, but no virus uncoating and infection, indicating that other factors are involved. In the present study, it is shown that treatment of macrophages with serum (mainly the alpha-globulin fraction) inhibited PRRSV infection without affecting attachment and internalization. Because alpha-globulins contain several protease inhibitors, macrophages were treated with different protease inhibitors to investigate the involvement of proteases in PRRSV uncoating. Treatment of macrophages with broadly active inhibitors of serine or aspartic proteases, but not cysteine- or metallo-proteases, inhibited PRRSV uncoating and infection. Further investigation using specific inhibitors indicated that the aspartic protease cathepsin E is involved during PRRSV uncoating, but did not allow identification of the serine protease involved. The involvement of cathepsin E during PRRSV uncoating was confirmed by partial co-localization of internalized PRRSV with cathepsin E. Furthermore, cathepsin E expression increased with macrophage cultivation, which was positively correlated with an increased susceptibility to PRRSV infection. Together, these data show that, in macrophages, both the aspartic protease cathepsin E and an unidentified trypsin-like serine protease are involved in uncoating of internalized PRRSV and subsequent infection.     

Atypical Aeromonas salmonicida infection in naturally and experimentally infected cod, Gadus morhua L.

Cod, Gadus morhua L., of wild origin, were reared at different temperatures for 12 months. During this period, moribund and newly dead fish were examined and samples collected for bacteriology and histopathology. Atypical Aeromonas salmonicida was isolated from 10 individuals reared at or above 7 °C. The isolates were homogeneous with respect to biochemical and antibiogram characters and similar to the ssp. achromogenes National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria, UK, type strain 1110 and reference strains that have been isolated from salmonids and haddock in Iceland. Histopathological analysis of the naturally infected cod showed typical ulceration associated with atypical A. salmonicida infection and also widespread granulomatous formations. One‐year‐old cod of farmed origin, kept at 9 °C, received intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection with different doses of atypical A. salmonicida, isolated from the above wild cod. Mortalities were monitored for 28 days and the LD₅₀ calculated. The route of bacterial injection influenced the mortality rate and LD₅₀ value and affected, to some extent, the pathological changes observed and humoral immune parameters. Pathological changes, including haemorrhage, early stages of granuloma formation and necrotic changes, were seen in several organs. Infection appeared to induce non‐specific antibody activity against trinitrophenyl (TNP)‐haptenated protein and may have activated the complement system. Specific antibody response against atypical A. salmonicida was not detected.     

Infertility in the cycling queen: seven cases

In this study we examined seven queens with normal oestrous cycles and a history of infertility after normal matings. We performed clinical examination, vaginal cytology, evaluation of oestradiol, progesterone and total T4 levels, vaginal bacterial culture, ultrasonography, and serum analyses for detection of antibodies against chlamydia and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) antigenemia. Ovariohysterectomy (OHE) was recommended for 1/7 queens because of pathological uterine changes detected at ultrasonography and clinical examination. Four out of seven queens were treated with antibiotics and two of these had more litters. One of the queens that were treated was not mated again and one was mated without conceiving and was at a later OHE found to have degenerative uterine changes. No treatment was given and no diagnosis could be established in 2/7 queens. Both of them were later ovariohysterectomised and one showed degenerative uterine changes while the uterus of the other queen could not be obtained for follow-up. In summary, 4/7 cats were diagnosed with uterine pathology and no definitive diagnosis could be established for 3/7 queens.